TX Man Arrested for Driving With Stepson, 7, on Car Roof

By Stephanie Rabiner, Esq. on March 22, 2012 8:48 AM

Houston police have arrested Abelardo Araujo, a man accused of driving around with a boy on the roof of his car. Facts seem to indicate that the child, Araujo's 7-year-old stepson, was enjoying the ride.

A patrol car spotted the pair in a parking lot that was doubling as the site of a makeshift car show, explains KPRC-TV. Araujo reportedly put the boy on the roof of the car so he could get a better view of the vehicles as they drove by.

Lest you think the boy was strapped to the roof like Mitt Romney's dog, the local news station reports that the 7-year-old was actually sitting on the sunroof with his legs inside of the car. This position presumably allowed the child to grab a hold of the ledge.

Even though he appears to have meant no harm, prosecutors have charged Abelardo Araujo with one count of child endangerment. He's since been released on a $2,000 bond, but there is no word on whether the city will follow through with a trial.

This blogger's guess is that they won't go that far. While Araujo did have a boy on the roof of his car, the child was unharmed. He was also driving in a parking lot, likely at a very slow speed. His actions were still a bit negligent, but there is a glaring lack of criminal intent. The charges may just be a ruse to scare Araujo -- and other parents -- out of ever trying this again.